Mobile overhead power/communication distribution system

ABSTRACT

A mobile overhead cable distribution system for an office or the like, comprising a plurality of horizontally elongate cable supporting elements connected horizontally in series and supporting thereon horizontally extending power and communication cables. A plurality of mobile and freestanding post assemblies are rollingly supported on a floor and projecting upwardly for supportive engagement with the cable supporting members to maintain the cable supporting members in upwardly spaced relation above the floor. Each serially-connected pair of cable supporting members has adjacent end connecting parts which are horizontally swingably supported on one of the upright posts adjacent an upper end thereof.

This application claims the benefit of provision application Ser. No.60/019,422 filed Jun. 7, 1996.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an arrangement for supporting and distributingcables within an office-type environment and, more specifically, relatesto a mobile overhead power/communication cable distribution arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Power and telecommunication cables are conventionally distributed towork stations through walls or space-divider panels, although in someoffices the cables are fed from overhead drop ceilings downwardlythrough power poles, or are fed along an arrangement of linking desks ortables. However, offices are more commonly utilizing collections offree-standing furniture for defining work stations, and are alsoproviding a greater degree of openness both at and surrounding the workstations. These more open areas or work stations, and the consequentelimination or minimization of space-dividing panels and the like,increase the difficulty of distributing power and communication cablesto the various work stations.

The present invention relates to a mobile cable distribution systemwhich permits the cables to be supported within elongate overheadsupport members which themselves are supported on mobile upright poststo facilitate the distributing of power and communication cables to workstations which are defined generally below the overhead cable supportdistributing members.

In the overhead distribution arrangement of this invention, a pluralityof elongate overhead cable support elements are provided each preferablyhaving an upwardly opening channel into which cables can be deposited.The ends of adjacent cable supporting members are preferably pivotallysupported on an upper end of a common upright post assembly, the latterhaving a wheeled base supported on the floor. A plurality of suchelongate cable supporting members are connected in series to permitcables to be extended therealong, with each such member having uprightposts provided in supporting engagement with the opposite ends thereof,with each series-adjacent pair of members having a common shared uprightpost. The connection of the ends of the cable supporting members to theposts enables the members to horizontally pivot about the post aboutvertical axis so that series-adjacent cable supporting members can bedisposed in a variety of positions which includes a wide range of angledrelationships including a longitudinally aligned relationship. Cablescan be selectively fed out of the members and thence downwardly alongthe post for access at selected work stations. The cables can also beconnected to suitable overhead outlets, such as electrical receptaclesor telecommunication jacks, provided in the underside of the cablesupporting members.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to personsfamiliar with structures of this general type upon reading the followingspecification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view illustrating a mobile overheadcable distribution system according to the present invention, the systemas illustrated being defined by four generally aligned sections.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view illustrating one of thecable distribution sections shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating theconnection of two adjacent cable distributing members to the upper endof an upright mobile support post.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic top view of the horizontally elongate cablesupport member.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line5--5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view which diagrammatically illustrates the mobiledistribution system as employing four serially-connected sections, andparticularly illustrating the flexibility with respect to theconfiguration which may be assumed by the system.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description forconvenience in reference only, and will not be limiting. For example,the words "upwardly", "downwardly", "rightwardly" and "leftwardly" willrefer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Thewords "inwardly" and "outwardly" will refer to directions toward andaway from, respectively, the geometric center of the system anddesignated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the wordsspecifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similarimport.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates therein a mobile overhead cable distribution system10 according to the present invention. This system includes a pluralityof horizontally elongate sections 11 which are serially connectedtogether, with the individual sections also being horizontally angularlymovable with respect to one another to define a desired configuration.The overall system 10 is disposed so as to be rollingly supported on afloor 12, with the system being disposed upwardly above the floor topermit cabling to extend in overhead relation relative to work stationsdefined on the floor.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, each section 11 of the overhead distributionsystem includes a horizontally elongate cable support member 16 whichsupports therein power and/or communication cabling as diagrammaticallyindicated by dotted line 17. This horizontally elongate cable supportmember 16 is supported in upwardly spaced relation from the floor by apair of mobile upright post assemblies 18 which supportingly engageopposite ends of the cable support member 16. The cable support member16, in the illustrated embodiment and as shown by FIGS. 2, 4 and 5,defines therein an elongate channel 21 which opens upwardly and extendsgenerally along the length of the member 16. Oppositelongitudinally-spaced ends of the cable support member 16 are providedwith mounting parts 22 and 23 thereon, the latter each having agenerally cylindrical opening 24 extending vertically therethrough.

The cable support member 16 is preferably of minimal height, asrepresented by the height H in FIG. 5, which height is significantlyless than 12 inches and is typically less than eight inches. The cablesupport member 16 also has a maximum horizontal transverse dimension orwidth W which is generally greater than the height H. Further, theoverall length L (FIG. 4) of the support member 16 is significantlygreater than the width W, and in fact length L will typically be atleast about 8 to 10 times greater than the width W. In an exemplaryembodiment, the length L will preferably be in the range of about 12feet.

Considering the mobile upright post assembly 18, same includes agenerally vertically elongate upright post 31 which is typically acylindrical tube, and a lower end of post 31 is rigidly supported on awheeled base 32, the latter typically possessing at least threeangularly related legs each having a caster which is disposed forsupportive and rolling engagement with the floor.

The upper end of upright post 31 mounts thereon an annular supportcollar 33 which is disposed adjacent but, as illustrated in FIG. 3, isfixedly secured to the post so as to be positioned downwardly a smallaxial extent from the upper free end 34 thereof. The collar 33 definesthereon a generally upwardly facing support surface 35. This supportsurface supportingly engages thereon the end mounting part 22 providedon the end of one cable support member 16, whereupon the support post 31projects upwardly through the central opening 24 thereof. The endmounting part 23 of the next serially-adjacent support member 16 is inturn supportingly engaged on top of the end part 22 with the post 31again projecting upwardly through the central opening of the end part23. When so disposed, the upper end of the post 31 projects upwardlyabove the vertically superimposed end parts 22 and 23 by a smallvertical extent.

Each post assembly includes a top cap 36 having a central hub part 37which opens downwardly and accommodates therein the upwardly projectingpart of the post 31. The hub part 37 projects axially downwardly so asto effectively abut against the upper surface of the end connector part23. The top cap 36 also has one or more generally horizontally orientedpassages or openings 38 extending therethrough. The opening 38 is usedto permit passage therethrough of the cables 17 as they extend betweenserially-adjacent support members 16.

The end connector parts 22 and 23, as illustrated in FIG. 4, havegenerally semicylindrical or semicircular outer end surfaces 41 which,in conjunction with the flat and generally parallel upper and lowersurfaces of these end mounting parts, provides for rotational support ofeach supporting member 16 relative to the support post 31 substantiallyabout the upright longitudinal axis 39 thereof. This enables the twoserially-adjacent supporting members 16, which members are connectedthrough and supported by a common post 31 as illustrated in FIG. 3, tobe relatively horizontally pivotally displaced about the axis 39 so thatthe adjacent serially-connected members 16 can either be disposed in alongitudinally aligned relationship, or they can be relatively angularlydisplaced into an angled relationship, such as a right-anglerelationship.

The ability of the individual sections 11 of the system 10 to behorizontally angularly moved is diagrammatically depicted in FIG. 6which illustrates the degree of freedom and flexibility with which theoverall system 10 can be oriented so as to permit distribution of cablesin an overhead fashion to a wide variety of locations which arepositioned thereunder.

In addition, the overhead cable supporting members 16 can themselves beprovided with outlets or various devices mounted therein. For example,as illustrated in FIG. 2, the member 16 can be provided with aconventional three-prong electrical receptacle 46 mounted substantiallywithin and flush with the sidewall of the member 16. In similar fashion,the sidewall of the member 16 can also have a telecommunication jack 47provided thereon. The electrical receptacle and communication jack willbe suitably connected to appropriate wires or cables which are providedinteriorly of the member 16. The wall of the member 16 can also have aswitchable light 48 mounted therein, similar to an overhead light asprovided in airplanes, which light will be suitably connected to thecabling within the support member 16 and can be suitably oriented toprovide directed lighting for specified areas disposed generally underand in relatively close proximity to the supporting member 16.

The post 31 can also be selectively provided with various types ofattachment structures thereon so as to facilitate the feeding of cablesdownwardly therealong, as well as the attachment of other auxiliaryoffice-type equipment to the post. FIG. 3 merely diagrammaticallyillustrates the post 31 being provided with an attachment channel orstrip 49 fixed to and projecting vertically along the outside of thepost, which channel will permit removable brackets, clips and the liketo be attached thereto so that other objects can be secured to the post.

The mobile overhead cable distribution system 10 of this invention thuspermits the floor 12 to be substantially free of cables, and henceeliminates or at least greatly minimizes floor obstructions due to thepresence of cables and the like running therealong. This in turn greatlyfacilitates the use, placement and mobility of work stations which maybe positioned on the floor, with such work stations in many casesthemselves being wheeled so as to have substantial mobility. When usedin conjunction with mobile work stations, the mobile overhead cabledistribution system 10 of this invention can be readily reconfigured asthe work stations are moved above.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cable support members 16 arepreferably molded of plastic or fiberglass, and in particular thegenerally shallow V-shaped cross-sectional configuration thereof, whichV-shaped configuration is of deepest profile at the middle and thenprogressively decreases towards the free ends, enables the cablesupporting members 16 to be molded from a wide variety of colorfulmaterials which, in conjunction with the actual configuration of themembers 16 themselves, enable the mobile overhead arrangement to imparta colorful and decorative appearance to the work station-definingregion.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognizedthat variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, includingthe rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the presentinvention.

I claim:
 1. A mobile overhead cable distribution system comprising: aplurality of horizontally elongate cable supporting members connectedhorizontally to one another in series and supporting thereonhorizontally extending cabling, and a plurality of freestanding uprightpost assemblies supported on a floor and projecting upwardly forsupportive engagement with the cable supporting members so as tomaintain said cable supporting members in upwardly spaced relation abovethe floor, each serially-connected pair of cable supporting membershaving adjacent end connecting parts which are adjacent to and supportedon an upper end of one of said upright post assemblies for horizontalswinging movement relative thereto.
 2. The cable distribution systemaccording to claim 1 wherein each of said cable supporting membersincludes a shallow elongate channel for confining horizontally extendingcabling therein.
 3. The cable distribution system according to claim 2wherein each of said cable supporting members includes an intermediateportion in which said channel is defined and a pair of said endconnecting parts projecting generally horizontally outwardly fromrespective opposite ends of said intermediate portion thereof, each ofsaid end connecting parts being disposed in overlapping relation with anadjacent one of said end connecting parts of a horizontally adjacent oneof said cable supporting members.
 4. A mobile overhead cabledistribution system comprising:a plurality of horizontally elongatecable supporting members connected horizontally in series and configuredto support thereon at least one horizontally extending cable; aplurality of mobile and freestanding upright post assemblies rollinglysupported on a floor and projecting upwardly for supportive engagementwith said cable supporting members so as to maintain said cablesupporting members in upwardly spaced relation above the floor, eachserially connected pair of said cable supporting members having firstand second adjacent end connecting parts which are rotatably supportedon one of said upright post assemblies adjacent an upper end thereofsuch that said cable supporting members are horizontally rotablerelative to said one of said upright post assemblies about a verticallyelongated axis thereof.
 5. The cable distribution system according toclaim 4, wherein said second connecting part is disposed below and incooperatively supporting rotatable engagement with said first connectingpart, and said one upright post assembly includes a collar removablysecured to said one upright post assembly adjacent said upper endthereof, said collar being in supportive engagement with said secondconnecting part and allowing relative rotation thereon.
 6. The cabledistribution system according to claim 5, wherein said one upright postassembly includes a vertically elongate post and a wheeled base attachedto a lower end of said post, said base including a plurality ofangularly related legs projecting horizontally outwardly away from saidpost, each of said legs having a caster attached thereto adjacent anouter end thereof, said wheeled base being disposed to allowsupportively stable and rolling engagement with the floor.
 7. The cabledistribution system according to claim 6, wherein said one upright postassembly has a top cap attached to said upper end thereof, said top capincluding a hub part defining an opening in which said post upper end isengaged, said hub part having a lower end which abuts said firstconnecting part, said top cap having at least one horizontal passage forallowing the cable to pass therethrough.
 8. The cable distributionsystem according to claim 4, wherein each of said cable supportingmembers includes a horizontally elongate intermediate portion whichextends between and rigidly joins to said first and second connectingparts, said intermediate portion having a substantially shallow v-shapedcross section to accommodate the cable therein.
 9. The cabledistribution system according to claim 4, wherein said one upright postassembly includes at least one attachment strip connected thereto forattachment of a plurality of removable brackets.
 10. The cabledistribution system according to claim 4, wherein one of said cablesupporting members has at least one telecommunication jack providedtherein.
 11. The cable distribution system according to claim 4, whereinone of said cable supporting members has at least one electricalreceptacle provided therein for connection to a source of electricpower.
 12. The cable distribution system according to claim 4, whereinone of said cable supporting members has a least one light connected toa source of electric power for providing illumination.
 13. A mobileoverhead cable distribution system comprising:a plurality ofhorizontally elongate cable supporting members connected horizontally inseries for supporting thereon horizontally extending cables, each ofsaid supporting members including a horizontally elongate intermediateportion which defines an upwardly opening channel extending therealongfor confining cables thereon, each of said supporting members having apair of generally flat plate-like end connecting parts disposed on andprojecting horizontally outwardly from opposite ends of saidintermediate portion thereof, each said end connecting part having anaperture extending vertically therethrough; a plurality of mobile andfreestanding upright post assemblies rollingly supported on a floor andprojecting upwardly for supportive engagement with said cable supportingmembers so as to maintain said cable supporting members in upwardlyspaced relation above the floor, each of said cable supporting membersextending horizontally between and being supported by a part of saidpost assemblies, and each horizontally adjacent pair of said cablesupporting members being serially connected by an overlapping adjacentpair of said end connecting parts which are rotatably supported on oneof said upright post assemblies adjacent an upper end thereof, said oneupright post assembly extending upwardly through said aperture of eachsaid end connecting part such that said cable supporting members arehorizontally rotatable about a vertically elongated axis of said oneupright post assembly.
 14. The cable distribution system according toclaim 13, wherein one of said pair of overlapping end connecting partshas an upper surface that is in supportive rotatable contact with alower surface of the other of said pair of overlapping end connectingparts, and said one upright post assembly includes a collar secured tosaid one upright upper end of said post assembly, said collar being insupportive rotatable engagement with a lower surface of said one endconnecting part.
 15. The cable distribution system according to claim13, wherein the pair of end connecting parts provided at opposite endsof each of said cable supporting members includes a first said endconnecting part which is disposed at one end of each of said cablesupporting members and is vertically offset downwardly relative to asecond said end connecting part which is provided at the other end ofeach of said cable supporting members.